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M. J'. OSULLIVAN.

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UNITED STATES PA'lENI OFFICE.

MICHAEL J. OSULLIVAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF 'lllREE-FOURIHS TO I. FRANK MORRISON, OF SAME PLACE.

TELEGRAPH-RELAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,955, dated October 16, 1883.

Application filed May 26, 1883. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it ntay calmer/t:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. OSULLI- "VAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of l\ilaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraph-Relays, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of telegraphic instruments known as relays, employed in main-line circuits to control the how of battery-currents over local circuits.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a plan view of the relay-instrument. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the contact terminal device being in section. Fig. 3 is a top view of the reversible contact terminal device. Fig. 4: is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the same.

I The letter A designates an electro-magnet; 0,, its crossbar, and b a bracket to which it is secured. The posts 0 are for the main-line wires, in which circuit the magnet is illcluded. The armature D is secured to an upright lever, F, mounted by one end on a shalt, f, which has bearing in screws g, set in the split studs 71. A spiral spring, '13, is attached to the lever, and has a cord, i, which is wound on a tension-post, J. The upper end of the lever has a platinum pin, 0, which constitutes one terminal. of the relay, and is connected with the local battery through the shaft f. screw g, stud 71, and a suitable wire (indicated in Fig. l by broken lines) to the post 75. The retraetile force of the spring t' serves the usual purpose to draw the lever and ar mature away from the magnet when the mainline circuit is broken. The reversible contact device L, which constitutes the other terminal, is supported by an arm, on, 011 a post, N, and is connected with the local circuit by a wire (indicated by broken lines in Fig.1) to the post it.

The arm at (shown in section in Fig. 2) has a slot, and a set-screw, N, passes through the slot into the top of the post. By this arrangement the contact terminal device L may be adjusted toward or from the magnet without disturbing the post, thereby avoiding any interference with the adjustment of the tension-spring r. The contact terminal device L is a metal ring or thimble, (see Figs. 3 and 5,) and sets down around the platinunrpin terminal on the upper end of the lever ,E. (See Fig. 2.) One half of the inner wall of this ring is composed of or lined with insulating material q, while the other half, r, is metal. A small platinum plug, r, may be inserted in the metal wall as a contact-point for the pin 0. A round shank, .9, projects up from the ring and passes through a box in the arm or, and has a head, .5", at the up per end. This shank is adapted to turn in its box, and also to be moved up and down. A spiral spring, 2, is about the shank intermediate of the arm and head, and serves to. keep the shank and ring normally elevated. Stop-pins a are attached to the ring and pro jeet up, and holes or sockets are formed in the under side of the arm to receive the stoppins, and these hold the ringshaped terminal from turning.

From the loregoing it will be seen the ringshaped terminal may be turned or rotated about the lever-terminal, and as one half of the ring is metallic and one half insulating material, it may be changed or reversed, so as to adapt it for contact with the lever-terminal either when the main line is intact or when broken. In other words, this device enables the local circuit to be kept open and in shape to receive signals both when the main line is normally open or closed.

The improved terminal has been described as ringshaped, and this particular shape I deem of practical importance; but it may have other shape. The most essential feature about it, however, is that it has two contact parts, one of which is metallic and one insulated, and that the two-part device is so contrived as to permit it to be reversed when desired.

Having described my invent-ion, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States In an electromagnetic relay, the combinas tion of the armature-lever constituting one terminal, and a two-part contact device-one part of which is of metal and one of insulating material, adapted to be reversed with reference to the arinature-1everconstituting the other terminal, whereby the local circuit may be kept open to reeeix e signals from the main line whether the latter is normally opened or closed, as set forth.

- In testirnony whereof I aflix my signature in IO presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL J. OSULLIVAN.

Witnesses:

JNo. T. MADDoX, J. EDWARD MoRRIs. 

